Bangladesh, US discuss democratic transition in Dhaka

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Bangladesh and the US discussed the democratic transition in Dhaka during a meeting between visiting National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau at the State Department in Washington, DC, on Wednesday.

The senior officials also discussed the more than a million Myanmar Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, the ongoing tariff dispute, and developments in South Asia, according to a Facebook statement issued by Interim President Muhammad Younas' office on Thursday.

Bangladesh has announced that a national election will be held in February of next year under Nobel laureate Yunus's interim government, which was established following the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during an uprising last August.

During the meeting, Landau praised Yunus' interim administration for leading the country through a difficult period and reiterated the US' continued support for Bangladesh.

Separately, Rahman met with Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch to discuss the reciprocal tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump, which impose a 37% tariff on Bangladeshi goods.

However, at the request of Bangladesh's transitional government, the Trump administration suspended it for three months, after which Bangladesh began negotiations on the proposed tariffs.